In the Sept. 28 finale of the weekend drama, Lee’s King Heon is deposed after being falsely accused of murdering the Queen Dowager (played by Seo Yi-sook). He returns to the palace to confront Prince Jesan (Choi Gwi-hwa), who’s been plotting a coup, and pushes back even as he’s sent into exile and his love Yeon Ji-young (Yoona) is kidnapped. Stripped of everything, Heon seems to lose his life just as Ji-young meets her tragic end and he’s thrust back to the present day―only for time to bend once more. In a miracle reunion, he finds Ji-young again and serves her hwanseban, the dish she made the day they first met, teasing a fresh start and sealing a hard-won happy ending.
From the first episode, Lee fully inhabited the role, unveiling new shades of the character each week and cementing his breakout status. Abroad, viewers affectionately dubbed him “Your Majesty,” as his piercing gaze, grounded delivery and steady cadence powered the show’s momentum. For his first-ever period drama, he earned raves for a commanding performance that balanced swagger with vulnerability.
Lee also mapped the king’s complicated psyche―shaped by his mother’s death―with nuance, selling both the relentless pursuit of the truth and a tender romance. As the story barreled toward its climax, he toggled between bruising action and aching emotion, drawing audiences deeper into Heon’s arc.
On top of crackling chemistry with his co-stars, Lee brought a lived-in warmth to the series’ many food moments, making every scene pop with sincerity and spark. The result: a character that felt wholly, definitively Heon―and a performance that hit all the right notes of swoon, heart and humor.
Sharing his farewell through agency Varo Entertainment on the 29th, Lee said, “From a freezing winter to a sweltering summer, our entire team poured sweat into this series. I’m more grateful than ever that we were able to wrap surrounded by so much love and support. I hope 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' lives on for you as a drama that brought laughs and butterflies, as well as warmth and real emotion.”
“It already means that to me,” he added. “This project gave me so much to learn from―so much growth and happiness―and that feeling still lingers. It’s become a driving force for what comes next. I’ll keep working hard to give back with good projects and performances, so please keep watching. Thank you, sincerely, to everyone who tuned in.”
[Photo= tvN]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)